Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-09
A STORY OF BARON sEILL,EaE.
4 Young Nobieman. with American
citizenship, Confined tn an
AsyIum I'm France.

The State Department is still inves.
iigating the case OF Baron Raymond
Seilliere. While he was in Washing
ton q few months ago he was intro
duced TO the President and received
the hospitality OF many prominent peo-
pie. The Baron went home to adjust
some property disputes with bis sister,
the Princess de Sagan. Less than q
fortnight after the Baron's return TO
Paris he was arrested and imprisoned
in lunatic asylum on the demand OF
his family. Thus far our Government
has, as AIR. McLane, United States
Minister in Paris, stated a few days
ago, used only its good offices, but as
the matter has since then been pre-
sented in different aspect, and as evil
dence exists that Baron Seilliere has
been deprived OF his liberty by con
'piracy, the next move may be a de-
mand for his release
The New York Times prints the fol-
lowing history of the case of Baron
Seilliere About q year ago n tail, dts
tingui.hed- looking man Of forty years,
with an aristocratic face and sweeping
black moustache, arrived in San Fran
cisco on his way to his home in Paris,
after q tour around the world. 1t
quickly became known in the Pacific
metropolis that be was Baron Seilliere,
and at the Palace Hotel, in San Fran,
cisco, and the Hotel Del Monte. at
Montery, he soon became q familiar
and remarkable figure.
The coquettish young women Of the
first circles there very quickly chris
tened him "The Dear Baron" and
being q man Of brilliant attain1ents,
wide experience. and amusing eccentri-
cities. he became widely known and
very popular. He also took great
fancy to California, often declared his
intention OF settling there, and, though
this was regarded as a joke, it was Sc
rious matter TO him, as he went into the
United States Court and declared his
intention Of becoming a citizen. FL
nally he left there and came to this
city.
IN q short time he was as well known
at the Hoffman House as he had been
at the Palace. He possessed enormous
wealth, and spent his money lavishly.
lie made quite circle OF friends here,
and when he left here for Paris was
very generally regretted by some of
the best-known men in town. These
men are now not little excited over
certain occurrences which were set
forth in letter from one of them
which appears below. The writer is in
an ex-city official OF high reputation
and unquestionabls yeracity. In an in
terviev last evening he said g first
received news OF this matter by cable.
Letters have since arrived giving me
full particulars. Baron Seilliere went
home to adjust some property dis
putos with his sister, the Princess De
s;agan, the wife Of the president of the
Jockey Club, and one of the best
known ladies' in Europe. Seilliere's
aunt, the Duchesss de Bergh, and his
brother Frank, who lives at ms estate
at Weildbad, in Germany, were also
concerned. Seilliere had scarcely ar
rived there before he received intina
ton that there was some kind of q con
spiracy on foot against him. and he
made his friends promise that if he
disappeared they would hunt him
up. He did disappear, and they did
hunt him up, finding that while
at bis aunt's hotel he had been seized
10y three men, hound, and carried to
the insane asylum at Vannes, Of which
Dr. Falrct is director. They learned
further that Seilliere had been decoy-
ed into state Of extreme anger, in
which he, being very nervous indi-
vldual, doubtless reached M abnormal
pitch. and IN preparation for it the
Princess de Sagan, DR.. Mattett, and a
medical reporter named Sosnan were
concealed behind n screen. They took
their own notes of what had passed,
and according to the letters their testi-
mouy sufic,d after his seizure to &C
compiish lis commitment. Since that
time Baron Sellliere has been 4 close
prisoner in - mad-house.'
The letter Of his friend says: This
case has already assumed an inter
national character from the fact that
VI. de Scilliere has declared his inten-
ton Of becoming a citizen OF the
United Stat, s. and it is attracting more
than ordinary interest, not only in
Paris, but IA this country, and particu-
larly IL this city, where he was well
known in social circles. Baron Ray
mend Seil.i,re is u son OF Baron Sell
liore, who was the head of the we'll
known hGuking-house IN Paris and
the owner OF the most extensive
cloth-miils in France. The De
SeilieIcs possess great wealth, va
Iiously estimated at from 2j0,-
coo, 900 TO SlG0, 900, Of which
o large proportion in the natural order
Of things would revert to the Baron.
who Is liberal and generous to fault,
at times psoluse in his expenditures,
and who las diminished his share CON
5idcrably. 10 prevent further de-
crease aud to get possession OF the bal
ance, which amounts 10 several mil
lions, was undoubtedly the reason OF
his imprisonment The mystery sur
rounding the whole matter and
tie impencirable secrecy preserved as
TO his whereabouts increased the ex-
element caused by bis disappearance.
His friends, thoroughly alarmed. en-
gagged experienced detectives, and h
vas traced to an insane asylum in Van
Dcs. There he remains and is likely to
remain unless cur Government, recog-
uiHDg his claim to citizenship, demands
bis release, or until public opinion in
France is aroused 10 action and de
mands the instant repeal OF the dan
qerous and iniquitous law of 1893,
Which gives the family absolute power
in the management and disposal OF an
insane member.
Cyrus Field Explains.